On June 30, folk-pop band Ben&Ben announced their updated world tour schedule, officially resuming on July 12, in Lincoln, California. The OPM trailblazers also announced the renewal of their contract with Sony Music Philippines, their record label since the release of “Limasawa Street in 2019.”
“We took a lot of time to reflect on the future of our music journey, and a huge part of that future is which record label we’re partnering with,” they stated.
The label’s general manager, Roslyn Pineda, also expressed appreciation for their continued collaboration with Ben&Ben.
n Folk-pop band Ben&Ben CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/NADINE SILVESTRE
“They embody the brilliance and inspiration of their generation. Their music has infused our country with hope and positivity. And I look forward to this new chapter in our partnership,” Pineda said.
During the press conference held at 12 Monkeys Music Hall, the band performed some of their well-loved songs, including “Paninindigan Kita,” “Autumn,” and their latest single, “Saranggola.”
With this development, the artists will present a refined version of their show, following the character of Liwanag as it travels across dimensions of light, energy, and feel.
“We want to bring them to the realms of emotion and the stories that they can relate to,” they added.
Alongside their updated tour dates, the band teased an upcoming concert film for The Traveller Across Dimensions Tour. They also expressed openness to mounting additional shows if the opportunity arises.
“We’re praying that it opens doors for us wherever it’s meant to be, whether it’s here in the Philippines, which we would love to, we want to break the misconception that it’s better to be international than local.”
Before heading back on tour, Ben&Ben performed a charity concert at the Araneta Coliseum on July 8 in partnership with Alay Kapwa from Caritas Filipinas. The tour resumes at the Lincoln Sports Center in California on July 12, followed by stops at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod on August 16, the John Hay Convention Center in Baguio on August 23, and the Holy Cross of Davao College Gymnasium on August 30.
In light of drummer Jam Villanueva’s recent injury, the band prioritized her recovery, with Jam assuring fans, “The goal is to be able to play as soon as I can in the healthiest way possible.” The group also acknowledged her irreplaceable presence. “Even if different drummers play for us, they don’t ever play quite the same way as Jam plays, and we’ll never sound the same without Jam.”
They recalled a recent performance where they had to quickly adapt after a member was unable to perform. The group praised each other for instinctively switching to a deconstructed drum setup. “It happened so fast, but everyone knew what to do, where to adjust, and how to move forward.”
As a nine-member group, Ben&Ben credits their unique sound to the blend of each member’s personality and musical style.
“In listening to each other, we found out that what we feel is magic in our music, which makes us love our music even more. It’s all of those quirks, strengths, and weaknesses, blended into one.
“Ultimately, through our differences and similarities, our goal is always to bring out the message and to deliver the song the best way we can. That’s where our differences shine.”
The group also shared how giving each other space outside of music has helped maintain their bond over the years.
“We come back to work with a better mind, energy, and we create better music if we give each other more space. That’s the grace of growing up.” They also humbly acknowledged that they still have much to learn and expressed gratitude to both the artists who came before them and those who followed.
Essentially, the band mentioned how authenticity and staying grounded in their roots remain central to their vision, “When you share something with the world, nothing’s more beautiful than sharing where you come from.”
As their global audience grows, they continue to embrace their uniqueness, stating, “Sharing our Filipino stories and our Filipino identity through the music we create is what we want to spread to the rest of the world as people discover our music.”
Be the first to comment